Rail tie



M. J. M ANDREW RAIL TIE Aug.9, 1927. V 1,638,740

- Filed Feb. 25. 1927 J fn uentar 7 WWW Attornqy I Patented Aug. 9,1927. I

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meant J 9533 3 EE AEDQ W .oa. as ments hppli c ationffi led February 25,19 27 seas rim-170,913.

The present invention relates to an "improved rail tie, which is especially, although notnecessarily designed for use i in. the construction of steelniine tracks, such as are i '5 employed in coal;niines and other zindustrlal The main purpose of the invention 13110 provide simple and inexpensiveallg metal 7 tie, such as will facilitate assembllng and 10 laying of tracks, and which is such as to hold the tracks in proper alignment under all conditions.

The invention is characterized by many important features. For instance, .it is made of one solid piece of steel, has a double strength wedge backing, embodies no clips,

nuts, bolts, rivets, or other fastening catches to work loose and includes no spikes or splice bars such as are ordinarily used. The 1nvention is advantageous, in that the work man needs nothing except regular tools to lay the track. The invention permits a jumper or extensionrail to be ;used, and keeps the track up to the face. It main- 5 tains the tracks in true gage, saves much head room, is very easyto handle, and thev track can be laidquickly. It can be'used time and time again.

The added wedge strength, and no clips, nuts and bolts or other fastenings increases the life of the ties in comparison to other steel ties ofthe same character. Inasmuch as the device is in one piece, no extra parts are required.

The invention will reduce operating and maintenance cost and is advantageous in that it can be employed with any sized steel rail, ranging from twelve to thirty pounds. Other features and advantages accompany the invention, and these will become apparent from the following detailed description x and drawings:

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railway track, showing the improved ties associatedtherewith. v Y i on through the Figure 2 is a cross secti track, showing the association ofthe clamp ing means more in detail. V

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional and elevatio'nal view, showing how ajumper or extension rail can be used, in order to keep the track up to the face.

i In carrying out the invention I employ a shaped in cross section. The opposite. ends 1 thereofr are directed upwardly," ,as at -2-,-' :to V

formli ooks, the hills of whichiterminate on planesubstantial-ly-even with. the: head; 3 -o-'li"the'E'rail. These hooks. are disposed; in

spaced relation to-theaweb base flange ofsthera'il, anduassume the-approximate=position shown in Figure 2. The curvature of 2 the hook, in each instance is such as to ac- 'commodate the curved sideitof a driven retaining Wedge 5. The opposite 'fa'ce 'ofthe wedge, however, is fiat, in. order to bear;

against the flat surface of the web of the" rail; As a-matter of fact, the wedge is shaped throughout'to conform to the surfaces of the tie and the rail.

hookand then being directed inwardly as at f 7, and terminating in a smallerbase, flange" engaging hook 8 This extension is of 'a' yielda'ble 'nature,}andit' is obvious that the, tighter the wedge is driven the firmer the clamping action of the hook 8.

referring to Figure 3,, 't will be ob served that the extension rail, in each in-: stance, :isclearly interposed between the'web of the main rail and the'hooked end of the special tie, the same beingheldin place by a relatively small wedge which is drivenin I betweenthe base flange of the complementa-l' I rail and the extension strap of the tiej. vIt

is of coursequite common to employ these' supplemental extension rails in practice, and 1' the only change requiredwhen used with the improved tie is the em loyment of smaller wedges. I

The invention 1s of such simple nature that the construction'and methodjof application and use is quite clear. For this reas son, a more lengthy description is believed], I

to be unnecessar Minor changes in'the size}. shape and proportion-s, comingwithin the scope of the inventionpclaimed, may beresortedvtp desired.

Lelaimz' we 1. 'A rail'tie of I prising a body having hooks formed atits opposite ends, together withyi-eldable exten- 'SiOIlS .terminating in base flange engaging the class described com Ina structureof V ,,combination, a track ncluding spaced pal allel rails having heads, base flanges, and

hooks ands'haped to conform to the interior of the first named hook and to underlie the base flange of the'rail; v thecla'ss described, in it rail tie of the class described comprising a connecting. Webs, "a one piece tie connector extending transversely beneath the base; flanges of the rails, the tie having upstand-;

ing hooks formedat its opposite ends, the bills of these hooks terminating on a plane substantially even with the heads of the rails, said tie including end extensions'bent downwardly, curved?outwardly,v their directed'to'underlie; the base flange of the-rails and terminating in hooks toengage the 0pvposite edge of the base flanges, and retaining Wedges interposed between the eb. of the rail and the curved .portionof said ex tensions, the Wedges being of a cross sece tlonal shape to conform tothe surfaces hichthey' contact. T -t 1 8.'As a .neW product of manufacture, a

one piece metal body of elongated form and of channel shaped cross section, said body terminating at each end in an upwardly curved hook, an extension strap extending ffrom the extremityof each hook, being bent downwardlyupon itself, then inwardly to conform tothe curvature of ,the inner side of said hook, and the portion of the .strapbeing bent inwardly to overlie the top of V V the vbody portion and then terminating ,in a vbase flange engaging hook.

In testimony whereof I affix my sight ture.

' MICHAEL JOSEPH McANDREW. 7 

